Tear-strip can opener



A. E. SANDNESS TEAR-STRIP CAN OPENER Dec. 29, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 22, 1963 INVENTOR.

ARNOLD E. SANDNESS Dec. 29, 1964 A. E. SANDNESS TEAR-STRIP CAN OPENER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 22, 1963 INVENTOR.

ARNOLD E. SANDNESS GKM MKK3W United States Patent 3,163,316 TEARETRII IIAN OPENER Arnold E. Sandness, 13d Rufus Circle, Syracuse, NY. Filed May 22, 1963, Ser. No. 232,249 4 Claims. (Cl. 220-52) This invention relates to a device for opening vacuum cans or similar containers having tear-strip sealing bands, and relates more particularly to a mechanism for securely gripping the tabbed end of a tear-strip while tearing the strip from the container.

Tear-strip containers usually have a key for opening the can but the rolled up strip frequently becomes dislodged from the key while opening the container resulting in breaking of the strip or, at least, in an excessive length of time being required for opening the can. Can opening devices heretofore known-may aid in more quickly opening the cans but they have the disadvantage that the tabbed end of the tear-strip frequently is pulled from the device while tearing the strip from the can and occasioning just as much difiiculty and loss of time in opening the can as when the key is used.

The principal object of the invention, accordingly, is to provide a tear-strip opener having means for gripping the tabbed end of the strip with a pressure greater than the force used to tear the strip from the can.

Another important object is to provide rotary means for firmly gripping the tabbed end of the strip and tearing the strip from the can while guiding the strip to prevent its misalignment.

A further object is to provide a tear strip can opener in combination with a conventional lid-shearing can opener.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a can opener according to the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view thereof, partly in section on the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view of the winding roller thereof;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary elevational view thereof as viewed from the left in FIG. 1;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the tab-gripping lever shown in FIG. 4;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of FIG. 2; 7

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary top plan view of a modified form of the invention in conjunction with a conventional type can opener;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view on the line 8--8 of FIG. 7;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view as viewed in the direction of the arrows 99 of FIG. 7;

FIGURE 10 is a top plan View of another modified form of winding roller in the device of FIG. 7;

FIGURE 11 is a sectional view on the line 11-41 of FIG. 13;

FIGURE 12 is a sectional view on the line 1212 of 13; and

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary sectional View on the line 13l3 of FIG. 10.

Referring more particularly to FIGURES 1-6, the can opener 19 comprises a frame 11 and a crank-operated roller 12.

Frame 11 has a down-turned leg 13 adapted to be secured to a wall in the usual manner and, at the other end, a down-turned tab 14 for concealment of some of the parts pendant from the frame. Ribs 15 may be provided for reinforcing the horizontally extending flat main portion of the frame.

A sleeve 16 is journaled in the frame and has a flange 17 at its top end providing a shoulder '18 which rests on the coaxially mounted tubular spacer 19 for supporting the sleeve on the frame. Below frame 11 another tubular spacer 2i) is mounted on the sleeve, and the lower end of the sleeve is slotted at 21 as seen in FIG. 6.

A collar 22 is mounted on the slotted end of sleeve 16 and is provided with key projections 23 interlocking with the slot 21. Collar 22 is provided with a radially projecting arm 24 notched at 25 for operating the roller 12 as will appear.

Roller 12 has a diametrically extending slot 26, best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, across its bottom end. At the center of slot 26, a recess 27 is provided for the head 28 of an axially extending shaft 3% extending up through the sleeve 16 for securing roller 12 to the sleeve.

The upper end of shaft 3% is shouldered at 31 and the reduced end is threaded to receive the washer 32 and nut 33. Shaft 34 from its head 28 to shoulder 31 has suificient length so that the winding roller 12 is only loosely held against collar 22 and is not operatively connected to sleeve 16 except through collar 22 as will appear.

The upper flange 17 of sleeve 16 is recessed as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 for the operating crank or handle 35 so that, when the handle 35 is turned, sleeve 16, being keyed thereto, is rotated and, in turn, causes collar 22 to rotate.

Notch 25 in the arm 24 of the collar is engaged with an axially projecting extension 36 at one end of a gripping lever 37 mounted in slot 26 of the winding roller. Extension 36 lies in an axially extending groove 33 in roller 2, best seen in FIGURE 3, which is sufficiently wide to allow for substantial side-to-side movement of extension 36 in the groove.

Lever 37 has a serrated tab-gripping jaw surface 39 along one side at its other end, and is pivotally secured to roller 12 by a shouldered stud or screw 4-0. The pivot screw 40 extends axially of the roller and is considerably nearer the jawed end than the extension end of lever 3'7.

One end of one of the chordally extending sides of groove 26 is also serrated to provide a jaw surface 41 terminating at the periphery of the roller and opposed to the jaw 39 on lever 37. Lever 37, accordingly, may be swung from side to side in groove 26 to engage or disengage the jaw surfaces or to grip the tabbed end of a tear strip therebetween.

As best seen in FIG. 4 the can opener It is also provided with a guide roller 42. Roller 42 is provided with tear strip guiding flanges 43 and 44 at either end, and is rotatably secured to one end of a post 45 by a shouldered stud or screw 46. The post 45 is secured at its other end to the outer end of an arm 47 which is pivotally secured to the front of frame- 11 by a shouldered screw 48.

In operation, roller 42 is swung to the'position shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 and handle 35 is turned clockwise. until the jawed end of groove 26 is presented at the front of the opener 10. The can or container to be opened is then presented manually and the tabbed end of the tear strip inserted between jaws 39 and 41. Supporting the can with one hand, the handle 35 may then be turned counterclockwise with the other hand.

Sleeve 16 and collar 22 are thereby turned carrying the extension as of lever 37 to the right as shown in FIG. 3. The can is held against roller 12 and guide roll 42, and, as lever 37 is swung to one side in its groove, the jaws 39 and 41 grip the tabbed end firmly. As the rotational pressure is continued, the tabbed end is pulled from the can and the winding roller 12 rotates to wind the strip around itself.

The can rests against rollers 12 and 42 and is rotated as the strip is wound on roller 12. The strip as it is torn from the can is bent partially around roller 42 as it is drawn on to roller 12 and the guiding flanges 43 and 44 align the strip on roller 42 to prevent the strip from becoming disengaged from either roller.

Since the length of lever .37 from pivot 4-0 to the end- 36 exceeds the length from the pivot to jaws 39 and 41,

and hence exceeds the lever arm from the axis of sleeve 16 to notch 25 in arm 24, the gripping pressure exerted on the tab by jaws 39 and 41 always exceeds the rotational pressure applied to roller 12 through jaw 39, the tab, and jaw 41, no matter whatresistance is encountered in pulling the strip from the can.

The can or container is continually pulled against rollers 12 and 42 while the strip is pulled from the can so that the'manual support given the can need only be sufficient to prevent the can from falling when the strip has been completely detached. When the can, with strip removed, is withdrawn and pressure on handle 35 ceases, the detached strip, now wound on roller 12, has sufficient resiliency to spring away from roller 12, swinging roller 42 away from roller 12. The partially uncoiled strip thereupon falls of its own weight, there now being no pressure exerted on jaws 39 and 41.

FIGURES 7, 8 and 9 show a modified tear strip can opener 59in combination with a conventional lid-severing can opener. 7

A bracket 51 is provided for mounting the can opener on the wall and a cutting or severing disc 52 (FIG. 8) is mounted in conventional manner on an arm 53 whch is pivotally secured at 54 (FIG; 7) to bracket 51. A fingerpiece 55 is provided on arm 53 for raising and lowering disc 52 with respect to the knurled can-rotating wheel 56 which is journalled in bracket 51.

A four sided hollow frame 57 is provided for supporting the tear strip opener. portion of the device, one side being secured to bracket 51in any convenient manner and the opposite side furnishing a journal for the operating shaft 58 for wheel 56. A crank or operating handle I 59 is provided for turning shaft 58.

Supported for rotation in the top plate of frame 57 is a sleeve 60 at one side of, and with its axis at right angles. to, shaft 53. Sleeve 60 has a circular flange 61 at its top end for supporting the sleeve on frame 57, and there is a notch162 extending axially of the sleeve along one edge of the flange.

Secured coaxially above flange 61 for independent rotation with respect to sleeve 60, is a winding roller 63. Roller 63 has a diametrically extending groove 64 across its upper end, and a lever 65 is pivotally mounted in the groove.

At the bottom of groove 64 at its center, a recess 66 contains the headed end 67 of a shaft 68 which extends down through sleeve 60 through the bottom side of frame 57. Shaft 68 is journalled in frame 57 and its lower reduced end is threaded to receive washer 69 and a retaining nut 70.

I The lower end of sleeve 69 is'reduced in diameter at '71 opposite the operating shaft 58 and on this reduced end a gear 72 is mounted and keyed to the sleeve at-73. A tubular spacer '74 extending from gear 72 to frame 57 on shaft 68 supports the gear. Shaft 58 is provided with a worm 75 in mesh with gear 72 for rotating sleeve 60 when the crank 59 is turned.

Lever 65 may be swung from side to side in the groove 64 of the winding roller s3 and at one end has an axial extension 76 extending down through an axial slot 77 in the roller for engagement in the notch 62. The other end of lever 65 has a serrated surface along one side to form a tab-gripping jaw 78 and, nearer to this end than the other, an axially extending shouldered pivot stud 79 secures the lever to the roller 63.

The chordally extending side wall of groove 64 opposite jaw 78 is provided with a serrated surface to form the other tab gripping jaw 80.

As shown in FIGURES 7 and 9, a guide roller support-- ing arm 82 is pivotally secured to the top side of frame 57 by a shouldered screw 83 and a guide roller 84 is secured to the arm as shown by a shouldered screw or stud 85. Roller 84 is provided 'with tab-guiding flanges 86 and 87. The winding roller 63 is reduced in diameter below groove 64 so that the lower tab-guiding flange 87 will not engage the winding roller and the upper flange 86 is disposed above roller 63 for the same reason.

In operation the opener 511 is substantially the same as for opener 10. When the tabbed end of the strip is placed between jaws 78 and 8t crank 59 may be turned to rotate shaft 58, worm 75, gear 72 and sleeve 60. Movement of the sleeve closes jaws 73 and firmly on the tab by reason of the engagement of the lever extension 76 in notch 62 in the sleeve. The tab is firmly engaged between jaws 78 and 8t), thereafter, while roller 63 is rotated to wind the strip around the roller as it is torn from the can.

Guide roller 84 provides means for holding the container being opened from following roller 63 as it is turned, and flanges 36 and 87 on the guide roller guide the strip as it is torn from the container. When the strip has been separated from the container it springs outward from the winding roller and may easily be lifted free of the roller.

FIGURES 1013 show a modified hollow winding roller 99 for use in the opener 50 and in which the gripping lever 91 is disposed within the hollow roller cover Referring first to FIGURE 13, a sleeve 93 is adapted at its lower end for connection with gear 72 and a shaft 94 is disposed within the sleeve and is journalled in the lower side of frame 57 in the same manner as shaft 68 in FIG. 8. a substantially circular end plate 95 for the winding roller 90, the end plate and sleeve being keyed at 96 as shown in FIGURES 12 and 13.

End plate 95 has a pre-shaped recess 97 (FIG-* 12) in the upper face thereof in which a first jaw member 98 is carried, the memberbeing movable from side toside within the recess about the shaft 94. Plate 95 is also provided with a radially extending flange 99 about the perimeter thereof, and, diametrically opposite the recess 97, the plate is provided with two upwardly projecting pins 190 spaced apart on either side of a diametrically extending line D (FIG. 11) across the upper face of the plate and across the recess 97. I

. The first jaw member 98 lies flat in the recess 97 and is journalled on shaft 94. At its outer end the member has an upturned tongue 191 forming one of the tab gripping jaws of the winding roller 90, and, between the jaw 101 and shaft 94, the member is provided with a pivot hole 102.

Above the jaw member 98 and lying flat on the upper face of end plate 95 is the gripping lever 91, best seen in FIG. 11. Lever 91 has an upwardly bent tongue or gripping jaw 103 on the opposite. side of line D and facing the jaw 101. A pivot tongue 1114, which is slightly rounded, is struck down from lever .91 and is contained in the pivot hole 102. Extending along the line D the opposite end of lever 91 is provided with a horizontally disposed tongue 105 which projects between and engages each of the pins 100. At the center of lever 91 a transversely extending slot 106 through'which shaft 94 passes, permits the gripping lever 91 to be moved from side to side about the pivot 192, 104 as urged by the pins 11%) acting on the tongue 105.

A tubular spacer 107 about the shaft 94 extends from lever 91 up to the roller cover 92. Shaft 94 passes through a hole in the cover 92 and is there provided with a The shouldered upper end of sleeve 93 carries shoulder 108. The washer Hi9 and nut 110 on the threaded reduced end of shaft 94 maintains cover 92 in position over the other moving parts of roller 90.

Cover 2 is provided with a slot 111 through the cylindrical side wall of the cover and in the top of the cover above the jaws 161 and 193, and the sidewalls of the cover rest on the flange ?9 of the end plate 95.

In operation, rotary motion of crank 59 and worm 75 is transmitted through gear 72 to the sleeve 93. As the end plate 95 is keyed to sleeve 93 this rotation is transmitted through the pins 100 to the tongue 1&5 of lever 91.

When lever 91 is rotated clockwise as viewed in FIG. 11, the lever is rotated on its pivot 162, 1% to swing jaw 103 toward jaw 101 for gripping a tear strip tab between the jaws. Rotation of the parts in the opposite direction moves the jaws apart. laws 101 and 193 project through the slot 111 so that the cover 92 is rotated with respect to end plate 5 by one or the other of the jaws when lever 91 moves with respect to the fixed jaw member 98.

As will be apparent to those familiar with the art, the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The embodiments disclosed are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative rather than restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for opening metal containers having tabbed tear-strip closures, comprising: a frame, a sleeve journalled in said frame, a winding roller rotatable independently of said sleeve, a shaft coaxially mounted in said sleeve for securing the roller on said frame, a gripping lever pivotally connected to said roller and extending substantially diametrically across the roller, a ohordally extending jaw surface on said rollerterminating at the periphery thereof, said lever having at one end a jaw surface opposed to and confronting said roller jaw surface, said roller having an axially extending groove therein diametrically opposite said jaw surfaces, the other end of said lever having an axially projecting extension lying in said groove and being free for side to side movement in the groove, means for rotating said sleeve, and a collar connected to said sleeve for rotation therewith, said collar engaging said lever extension for first swinging said lever jaw surface toward said roller jaw surface to grip the tabbed end of the strip therebetween and for then rotating said roller to wind the strip about the roller, the pivotal connection of said lever to the roller being nearer to the jaw surface end of the lever than the extension bearing end, whereby the tabbed end of the strip is gripped with greater pressure than the rotational pressure on the roller while the strip is torn from the container.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 characterized by having a guide roller rotatably mounted on said frame at the side of said winding roller for holding the container away from the winding roller, said guide roller having an annular flange at either end thereof for guiding the strip as it is torn from the container. A

3. A gripping mechanism for holding fast the tab end of a container tear-strip including a hollow roller adapted for winding the strip thereon and having an axially extending peripheral slot, and a grip lever pivotally mounted within said roller and extending substantially diametrically across: the roller, said roller having a first jaw member secured within the roller, said member having an axially extending jaw adjacent the slot in the periphery of the roller, said lever being pivotally mounted on said first jaw member and having a jaw at one end adapted to be swung into engagement with said first jaw for gripping a tear-strip tab inserted through the slot between said jaws when said lever is turned on its pivot with respect to the roller, the other end of said lever being free to swing from side to side in a plane normal to the axis of theroller, the pivotal connection between the lever and the first jaw member being axial of the roller and being nearer the, jaw end than the free end of said lever, said roller having operating means mounted coaxially therewith for limited rotation independent of the roller, said operating means being operatively connected to the free end ot" said lever for first closing said jaws and thereafter rotating said roller.

4. A device for opening metal containers having a tabbed tear-strip closure, comprising: a frame, and at leastpartially hollow roller having a cylindrical periphery of suilicient height to engage the tear strip, a chordally and axially extending jaw shoulder on said roller terminating substantially at the periphery of the roller, said periphery having a slot at the termination of said shoulder, a shaft rotatably supporting and axially securing said roller on said frame, a tab-gripping lever pivotally carried on said roller and extending substantially diametrically there across spaced from said shaft, said lever havinga jaw surface at one end thereof movable away fnom and against said jaw shoulder, the other end of said lever being free with respect to the roller for limited' swinging motion from side to side, the pivotal connection between the lever and the roller being axial of the roller and being nearer the jaw end than the free end of said lever, a rotatable operating sleeve journalled in said frame coaxially with said roller about said shaft and capable of while the strip is pulled from the container, whereby the tabbed end of the strip is gripped with greater pressure than the rotational pressure :on the roller while the strip is torn from the container.

References Cited in the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,954,142 Dean Sept. 27, 1960 Hartley Oct. 22, 1963 

1. A DEVICE FOR OPENING METAL CONTAINERS HAVING TABBED TEAR-STRIP CLOSURES, COMPRISING: A FRAME, A SLEEVE JOURNALLED IN SAID FRAME, A WINDING ROLLER ROTATABLE INDEPENDENTLY OF SAID SLEEVE, A SHAFT COAXIALLY MOUNTED IN SAID SLEEVE FOR SECURING THE ROLLER ON SAID FRAME, A GRIPPING LEVER PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID ROLLER AND EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY DIAMETRICALLY ACROSS THE ROLLER, A CHORDALLY EXTENDING JAW SURFACE ON SAID ROLLER TERMINATING AT THE PERIPHERY THEREOF, SAID LEVER HAVING AT ONE END A JAW SURFACE OPPOSED TO AND CONFRONTING SAID ROLLER JAW SURFACE, SAID ROLLER HAVING AN AXIALLY EXTENDING GROOVE THEREIN DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSITE SAID JAW SURFACES, THE OTHER END OF SAID LEVER HAVING AN AXIALLY PROJECTING EXTENSION LYING IN SAID GROOVE AND BEING FREE FOR SIDE TO SIDE MOVEMENT IN THE GROOVE, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID SLEEVE, AND A COLLAR CONNECTED TO SAID SLEEVE FOR ROTATION THEREWITH, SAID COLLAR ENGAGING SAID LEVER EXTENSION FOR FIRST SWINGING SAID LEVER JAW SURFACE TOWARD SAID ROLLER JAW SURFACE 